Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television

MGM Television is the television production division of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, producing and distributing TV programs.

MGM’s television history began before the formal creation of MGM Television. During the early 1950s, the film studio considered television primarily as a promotional medium and explored relationships with broadcast programs. MGM Parade, an anthology and compilation program, was among its early television efforts. The studio then decided that the expanding television market represented a direct licensing and production opportunity rather than merely an advertising outlet. A dedicated MGM Television operation was organized in June 1956 under Bud Barry. Its initial responsibilities included selling MGM’s feature films to television, developing series, and considering ownership or investment in television stations. Sales executives from Guild Films joined the operation, and MGM acquired a minority interest in KTTV in Los Angeles. The business quickly became an important part of the studio’s commercial strategy, although its practices in packaging the film library attracted a 1957 antitrust action by the United States Department of Justice. MGM defended its licensing arrangements by emphasizing that stations could choose among packages and individual titles. The division’s development was uneven. MGM considered numerous series during the late 1950s, but network decisions limited its early primetime presence. Production resumed more actively around the 1960–61 season, with executives and producers recruited from the networks and independent production community. The company sold feature-film packages, made commercials, supplied series, and attempted various forms of branded distribution. In 1973 it introduced the MGM Family Network concept, but financial difficulties at the parent company soon led to the closure of distribution offices and the outsourcing of film-library distribution. The 1981 MGM-United Artists merger produced the MGM/UA television identity. The division worked with producers including Fred Silverman, George Reeves, David Gerber, and Jerry Ludwig, and launched the MGM/UA Premiere Network in 1984. The 1986 sale to Ted Turner created a major division in the library: Turner retained the pre-May 1986 MGM television programs after returning most of the acquired company to Kirk Kerkorian. That retained library later moved into the Warner Bros. family through Turner Broadcasting. MGM’s continuing television operation was renamed and reorganized several times while maintaining production of programs such as Fame, The Twilight Zone, and Kids Incorporated. During the 1990s, the television group underwent further restructuring. MGM returned to the MGM Television name, established worldwide and telecommunications divisions, and expanded its library through the acquisition of Orion and other companies. These transactions brought additional television catalogs and strengthened MGM’s position as a rights owner and distributor. The 2000s brought major changes in distribution. After the 2005 acquisition of MGM by a consortium that included Sony and Comcast, Sony Pictures Television handled significant distribution of MGM’s television output. MGM reclaimed greater control in 2006 and pursued a broader strategy that included television networks and digital channels. Partnerships and ventures produced services such as This TV, MGM HD, Impact, Comet, Light TV, and Charge!, while MGM’s domestic television sales operation distributed programming for partners including MeTV. MGM Television later emphasized production partnerships and acquisitions. MGM consolidated the Lightworkers Media and One Three Media businesses into United Artists Media Group, acquired the remaining UAMG interest, and placed Mark Burnett in charge of MGM Television. It also created Gato Grande Productions with Mexican partners and acquired Evolution Media and Big Fish Entertainment. These moves broadened MGM’s capabilities in unscripted, reality, international, and producer-led television while continuing to exploit the company’s film and television library.

1. 2018Big Fish Entertainment acquired

   MGM acquires the unscripted producer Big Fish Entertainment.

   Source
2. 2017Evolution Media acquired

   MGM expands its unscripted-production portfolio through the acquisition of Evolution Media.

   Source
3. 2015MGM takes full control of UAMG

   MGM acquires the remaining UAMG interest and appoints Mark Burnett as MGM Television chief executive.

   Source
4. 2014United Artists Media Group is formed

   MGM combines Lightworkers Media and One Three Media into a new television production division.

   Source
5. 2006MGM reclaims television distribution

   MGM ends Sony’s television and home-entertainment distribution role and relaunches its own operation.

   Source
6. 2005Sony-led consortium acquires MGM

   A consortium including Sony and Comcast purchases MGM, leading Sony Pictures Television to distribute substantial MGM television assets.

   Source
7. 1997MGM acquires Orion and related libraries

   MGM purchases Orion Pictures, The Samuel Goldwyn Company, and Motion Picture Corporation of America assets.

   Source
8. 1986Turner acquisition separates parts of the library

   Ted Turner acquires MGM/UA and retains the pre-May 1986 MGM television holdings after the broader transaction is reversed.

   Source
9. 1981MGM and United Artists merge

   The television operation adopts the MGM/UA identity following the parent-company merger.

   Source
10. 1973MGM Family Network launches

    MGM introduces a branded television network concept carried by a group of stations.

    Source
11. 1957Antitrust scrutiny over film packages

    The United States Department of Justice challenges MGM’s television-library packaging practices.

    Source
12. 1956MGM Television is founded

    MGM establishes a dedicated television operation for production and distribution of its film library.

    Source

A studio-and-library entertainment brand combining MGM’s classic film assets with television production, syndication, international distribution, branded channels, and investments in independent producers.

• Stargate SG-1Scripted television series1997

  A science-fiction television series based on the Stargate film property. First broadcast in 1997, it became one of MGM Television’s most prominent long-running television franchises and helped extend the studio’s film mythology into serialized television.

• Paternity CourtFirst-run syndicated court show2013

  A syndicated courtroom and talk-format program announced by MGM Television in 2012 through its Orion television production operation. It represented MGM’s return to the local first-run syndication market after a lengthy period in which outside distributors handled much of its television output.

• FameScripted television series

  A television series produced by MGM Television during the 1980s, continuing the studio’s practice of adapting or extending film-related entertainment properties for television.

• The Twilight ZoneAnthology television series

  MGM Television produced the 1980s revival of the classic science-fiction anthology. The division also participated in later syndication packaging and distribution of episodes and related programming.

• CometDigital broadcast network2015

  A genre-focused digital television network launched with Sinclair Broadcast Group. It uses MGM’s library and emphasizes science fiction and related entertainment.

• Charge!Digital broadcast network2017

  A second digital-network venture between MGM and Sinclair Broadcast Group, launched with MGM programming and largely replacing The Works in the relevant distribution portfolio.

• Light TVDigital broadcast network2016

  A network introduced by MGM with a programming focus on family and faith-oriented entertainment.

• This TVDigital broadcast network2006

  A movie-and-television network launched by MGM in partnership with Weigel Broadcasting, using MGM’s catalog as a significant programming resource.

• 2018Acquire Big Fish EntertainmentM&A

  MGM continued to expand its unscripted and nonfiction production portfolio.

  What changed. MGM acquired Big Fish Entertainment, known for unscripted television production.

  Aftermath. The transaction further diversified MGM Television’s production base beyond scripted series and library distribution.

  Source
• 2017Acquire Evolution MediaM&A

  MGM was broadening its presence in unscripted television and reality production.

  What changed. MGM acquired Evolution Media, an unscripted studio associated with the Real Housewives franchise.

  Aftermath. The acquisition increased MGM Television’s in-house unscripted-production capacity.

  Source
• 2015Acquire the remaining UAMG interestM&A

  MGM had previously held a majority stake in United Artists Media Group.

  What changed. MGM announced a stock-and-cash transaction to acquire the remaining interest and named Mark Burnett chief executive of MGM Television.

  Aftermath. UAMG’s production assets became more fully integrated with MGM Television, including co-production participation in Burnett-associated reality franchises.

  Source
• 2014Acquire a controlling stake in Lightworkers Media and One Three MediaM&A

  MGM sought to expand its television production capabilities through companies associated with Mark Burnett and Roma Downey.

  What changed. MGM acquired a 55 percent stake and combined the businesses into United Artists Media Group.

  Aftermath. The transaction gave MGM a larger platform for scripted, unscripted, and faith-oriented television production.

  Source
• 2006End Sony distribution and restore direct controlStrategy

  Sony Pictures Television had handled significant MGM television distribution after the 2005 consortium acquisition of MGM.

  What changed. MGM announced that it would end Sony’s television and home-entertainment distribution role and relaunch its own production and distribution operation.

  Aftermath. The move returned greater control over MGM’s television output to the studio and supported its renewed participation in first-run syndication.

  Source

• 1957Film-library packaging antitrust caseControversy

  The U.S. Department of Justice sued MGM Television over alleged block booking in the sale of its film library to television stations. MGM disputed the allegations and described its package structure as providing stations with multiple licensing choices.

  Source

• 2018MGM acquires Big Fish Entertainment

  MGM acquired Big Fish Entertainment, a production company associated with unscripted television.

  M&A
  Source
• 2017MGM acquires Evolution Media

  MGM expanded its unscripted production activities by acquiring Evolution Media, known for reality programming.

  M&A
  Source
• 2015MGM acquires remaining United Artists Media Group interest

  MGM announced a stock-and-cash transaction for the remaining UAMG interest and appointed Mark Burnett as MGM Television’s chief executive.

  M&ALeadership change
  Source
• 2014MGM acquires majority stake in United Artists Media Group

  MGM acquired a controlling interest in companies associated with Mark Burnett and Roma Downey and formed United Artists Media Group.

  M&A
  Source
• 2006MGM ends Sony television distribution arrangement

  MGM announced that it would resume control of television production and distribution after ending Sony’s television and home-entertainment distribution role.

  Other
  Source
• 1956MGM Television established

  MGM created a dedicated television operation to produce programs and distribute its feature-film library to broadcasters.

  Other
  Source

1. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television
2. MGM official website